Getting there (from London)
Discussion
Is it realistic to drive to Le Mans in a day from London? I'd always assumed so, but speaking to someone who's done it before they recommended a stopover somewhere.
Also, can someone who's done it before suggest a realistic total transport cost for the return trip (fuel, ferry, tolls etc)?
Also, can someone who's done it before suggest a realistic total transport cost for the return trip (fuel, ferry, tolls etc)?
Of course its do-able in a day. We used to meet at the M20 J8 services about 7ish for breakfast(so an early start) - head for an 8.30/9 ish ferry. Hit LeMans early evening after some stopping & lunch etc with a large group it seemed to take ages. That was Auto-route to Rouen and then N138. Nowadays with Auto-route possible all the way you can do it very quickly if you have to though its dull in the extreme.
The quickest I've done it was when going back to pick up my Impreza that let me down. HireCar to Dover (leave at depot). Walk to Ferry. Cross as foot passenger. Pick up french hire car @ Calais (Ford ka!). Drive to Le Mans. Leave Hire car at depot. Taxi to Garage. Pick up car. Drive Home. Left suffolk 5am...got home about 11pm ish.
Last few years I've taken my MG Midget. We now actually travel-lodge it in Dover and get a 6am ferry. Auto-routes are simply no fun (6000rpm = 90mph) so we only go as far as abbeville - then more or less drive in a straight line to Le Mans. Fantastic empty french country roads. Very enjoyable. Usually get to LM mid-afternoon after a nice lunch stop
The quickest I've done it was when going back to pick up my Impreza that let me down. HireCar to Dover (leave at depot). Walk to Ferry. Cross as foot passenger. Pick up french hire car @ Calais (Ford ka!). Drive to Le Mans. Leave Hire car at depot. Taxi to Garage. Pick up car. Drive Home. Left suffolk 5am...got home about 11pm ish.
Last few years I've taken my MG Midget. We now actually travel-lodge it in Dover and get a 6am ferry. Auto-routes are simply no fun (6000rpm = 90mph) so we only go as far as abbeville - then more or less drive in a straight line to Le Mans. Fantastic empty french country roads. Very enjoyable. Usually get to LM mid-afternoon after a nice lunch stop
Chris71 said:
markmullen said:
More fun is the old road, the N138
Cool, I presume you can still do that in reasonable time without attracting the attention of the gendarmes? I gather they're downright evil around Le Mans time. 
Bank on nearer to 4 1/2 - 5 hours if you're travelling when the roads are busier.
Chris,
Assume the police are everywhere, as they truly are, not just in the Le Mans vicinity, in mid June. You see them trying to be inconspicuous along all the autoroutes from Calais, and in many of the rest areas the police set up a facility where they take your Euros immediately after stopping you up the road. And speeding is regarded as serious stuff by the police, so the fines and potential for losing your licence and even your car on the spot, are very real. You'll find plenty of advice to be cautious and tales of woe on the PH Le Mans thread.
I've been many years and had some narrow escapes against the speed gun, on auto routes and in villages, luckily just spotted them in time or seen others get caught ahead of me. A heavy right foot will mean a lightened wallet at best.
R.
Assume the police are everywhere, as they truly are, not just in the Le Mans vicinity, in mid June. You see them trying to be inconspicuous along all the autoroutes from Calais, and in many of the rest areas the police set up a facility where they take your Euros immediately after stopping you up the road. And speeding is regarded as serious stuff by the police, so the fines and potential for losing your licence and even your car on the spot, are very real. You'll find plenty of advice to be cautious and tales of woe on the PH Le Mans thread.
I've been many years and had some narrow escapes against the speed gun, on auto routes and in villages, luckily just spotted them in time or seen others get caught ahead of me. A heavy right foot will mean a lightened wallet at best.
R.
Chris71 said:
Is it realistic to drive to Le Mans in a day from London? I'd always assumed so, but speaking to someone who's done it before they recommended a stopover somewhere.
Also, can someone who's done it before suggest a realistic total transport cost for the return trip (fuel, ferry, tolls etc)?
I'll be driving from SE1 to catch an 8am ferry on Thursday. Probably take the autoroute then N138.Also, can someone who's done it before suggest a realistic total transport cost for the return trip (fuel, ferry, tolls etc)?
From memory doing this route will cost about £30 in tolls. Ferry cost varies all the time, I'd expect about £80-120 per car at the moment (haven't checked). For fuel, it obviously depend on what you're driving - do a googlemaps route from your house to lemans and work it out on your cruising mpg.
Chris,
As said above, it can be done in a day from London. I've done it from Peterborough area a number of times without any problems.
If you're camping it's worth staying somewhere Sunday night on the way back south of Rouen to get a good meal, sleep, shower, etc before the run home.
Have you decided yet whether you're going in the S? I've taken mine and I strongly suggest getting off the motorways where possible - less plod (but not "no" plod the nearer you get to LM on the N128) and much much more fun. Use www.viamichelin.com to help plan your route and select bike as the mode of transport then pick and choose the bits you want to avoid the m/ways. Any road with green shading means it's scenic which usually means.....
As said above, it can be done in a day from London. I've done it from Peterborough area a number of times without any problems.
If you're camping it's worth staying somewhere Sunday night on the way back south of Rouen to get a good meal, sleep, shower, etc before the run home.
Have you decided yet whether you're going in the S? I've taken mine and I strongly suggest getting off the motorways where possible - less plod (but not "no" plod the nearer you get to LM on the N128) and much much more fun. Use www.viamichelin.com to help plan your route and select bike as the mode of transport then pick and choose the bits you want to avoid the m/ways. Any road with green shading means it's scenic which usually means.....
Edited by Longers on Friday 27th March 09:54
5upra said:
I live in North Kent. Done Le Mans now for 5 years and the quickest way home, and there are no arguements here, is via Paris. Why ? no hold-ups at the ridiculous Peage traffic jams or slowing down every couple of miles because of the plod.
And you've done a direct comparison have you ?? With two car leaving Le Mans at the same time ??The only peage delay we encountered last year was just south of Rouen and that was only because there wasn't a dedicated "Le Doofer" lane !
Otherwise, the journey was easy, especially as we weren't trying to achieve warp-leptons on the autoroute.
I think it VERY much depends on when you leave Le Mans as to what is the quickest route back to the Channel ports.
-Lummox- said:
We normally head off from north London around 3am, get the ferry and arrive at Houx Annexe around lunchtime on the Wednesday before the race.
Sounds like a rush to me, I like to be putting my tent up on monday night (Blue Nord) ready for the first rest day "Tuesday" Steve
I would like to add that the pits are open with hardly anyone there on this day for some nice pics.
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